INCE my late
setting foorth of the Faerie Queene,
finding that it hath found a fauourable passage amongst you; I haue
sithence endeuoured by all good meanes (for
the better encrease and accomplishment of your delights,) to get into
my handes such smale Poemes of the same Authors; as I heard were
disperst abroad in sundrie hands, and not easie to bee come by, by
himselfe; some of them hauing bene diuerslie imbeziled and purloyned
from him, since his departure ouer Sea. Of the which I haue by good
meanes gathered togethaer these fewe parcels present, which I haue
caused to bee imprinted altogeather, for that they al seeme to containe
like matter of argument in them: being all complaints and meditations
of the worlds vanitie; verie graue and profitable. To which effect I
vnderstand that he besides wrote sundrie others, namelie Ecclesiastes,
& Canticum canticorum translated, A senights slumber,
The hell of louers, his Purgatorie, being all dedicated to Ladies;
so as it may seem he ment them all to one volume. Besides some other
Pamphlets looselie scattered abroad: as The dying Pellican, The
howers of the Lord, The sacrifice of a sinner, The seuen Psalmes,
&c. which when I can either by himselfe, of otherwise attaine too,
I meane likewise for your fauour sake to set foorth. In the meane time
praying you gentlie to accept of these, & graciouslie to entertaine
the new Poet, I take leaue.